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Call Me Ishmael; volume 5

by Patrick Shea

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1.
Chapter 48: The First Lowering The more the merrier! Came out of the heat, and they're pulling beside. There's noting scarier Than losing a whale while you pray to the sky. Those devils are good fellows, too! You see them row, and the rowing's proof! Break your back on it! An angry dog with a knife his teeth, But don't belabor it -- You're nodding off, like a day at the beach. Now, hail ye, Starbuck, pull aside, Have you seen such sights in the whole world wide? Oh, the whales abound and the action's nigh! With duty, our profits will rise and rise! Look thee out at the deep, dark blue -- The ocean's looking at each of you! And now, prepare you To chase your death to the heart of a storm. With hearts of caribou We tarry on, and we're never undone! Now whale and squall and harpoon are one, With hope aloft in the setting sun. (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
2.
Chapter 76: The Battering Ram May Truth reveal itself In moth-fed predilections, Furnished by the wealth Experience conditions, So we do it! I can't conceive your eyes, But I don't care. Maybe another day. In all, precedes a form -- A wall of indivision, A cold protecting warm In palpable commission, And so we charge ahead. Behind it all, amassed, Tremendous life, Or so I see in you. But take, take, take, take, take, take, take it easy! Now believe each fateful sight! A wonder in every fold, A truth waiting to be told! A youth who steals the path From timely revelation, When sorrow takes it back, Dies in observation Of the only Truth. I can't conceive your eyes, But I don't care. Maybe another day. (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
3.
Hark! 01:54
Chapter 43: Hark! "Hey now, comrade, something is coming our way!" "Keep your mind on the task at hand, or be gone!" In labor we were silenced all along. "The captain sleeps below us, so be what you be." In deference, we change the truth that we see. The ocean's rolling! Shake it, shake it, shake into the shadows beneath! The shuttered silence awoken, we are free! Shake it, shake it, now, Shake the stern to the bow! In labor we were silenced all along. In deference, we change the truth that we see. The ocean's rolling! Shake it, shake it, shake into the shadows beneath! The shuttered silence awoken, we are free! Shake it, shake it, now, Shake the stern to the bow! Shake it, shake it, now! (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
4.
The Decanter 02:17
Chapter 101: The Decanter Oh, everybody knows you're an Englishman, Leaning with a beer on the still capstan. A party in the bow, with beef to pass around -- Oh, you're out of sight! Extend your generous hospitality -- We're worked to the bone. Whether it bull-beef or dromedary, It's more than I've known. And so we sing it!: Make me an Englishman, His life is for me! Never to lift a hand, Without some relief! That's how we sing it! Oh, everybody knows you're an Englishman, Dizzy in the head when you're harpoonin' -- You throw it in the dark, but always hit your mark. Oh, you're out of sight! And so we sing it!: Make me an Englishman, His life is for me! Never to lift a hand, Without some relief! That's how we sing it! (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
5.
Ahab's Leg 01:32
Chapter 106: Ahab's Leg Joy from joy, And misery from misery! Sadness suckles at your breast again. The weight of depth, Enough to crack your deadened half, Could never leaven with felicity. And on through the endless history of the seeds of pleasure, Belayed to the promissory of despair, oh! So we're caught, Contemplative, but for our lot -- Each ambition with decent of pain. Brace us now, And live we for the where and how! With practicality I stand, estranged. And on through the endless history of the seeds of pleasure, Belayed to the promissory of despair, oh! Credit given in forbearance's name; Nothing given to enjoy the same. And on through the endless history of the seeds of pleasure, Belayed to the promissory of despair, oh! Joy from joy, And misery from misery! Snakes and songbirds do beget the same. Brace us now, And live we for the where and how! With practicality I stand. (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
6.
The Sermon 02:23
Chapter 9: The Sermon Purge your pride, in the belly of Desire, in the valley of Required opportunity -- Delight in obedience. The flame burns true as a compass, there's No skew on perspectives you Want to simply justify -- And so do you slumber. But, oh! The hand of God is up above! And, oh! You cannot run from boundless love! Carried down with a tempest of Renown, to the stillness of Each round individual sphere -- Peace now is a punishment. So beg your Lord for the trying reward Bestowed for the congress of man, Each lost in his wickedness -- And so, with your pilot! And, oh! The hand of God is up above! And, oh! You cannot run from boundless love! (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
7.
Chapter 35: The Mast-Head Saint Stylites on a pillar in the desert, What is he looking for? Like a priest in the tower of Babel -- What is he looking for? Stand we now, fast to the columns of grandeur, As a colossus, yeah! Up in the trees, with the world overflowing -- What more to conquer, hey? Here do we sway; destitute, Languorous days; amplitude Of the humble-most waves Move us far and wide. See Captain Sleet, high and mighty in the crow's nest -- A token advantage, oh! Power reduced to convenience, common pleasures Painted a noble hue. And we, not bemused For exposed through and through! (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
8.
Chapter 64: Stubb's Supper When I die, I'll go to heaven, When I die upon the sea. When I die, I'll go to heaven -- The blessed angels will deliver me! Stiff of leg, with nature's reason, So the minstrel shows betray, But I'll preach another season To the sharks who wouldn't listen to be saved! Oh, they feed upon the river, And they feed upon the sea, And they feed until they wither With the burden that they gathered in their greed. Sharks own the river, Sharks own the sea, Sharks don't deliver, But the blessed angles will deliver me! When I die, I'll go to heaven, When I die upon the sea. When I die, I'll go to heaven -- The blessed angels will deliver me! (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
9.
Chapter 122: Midnight Aloft -- Thunder and Lightning Um, um, um. Um, um, um. Every snowflake in the winter, Every lightning bolt in spring, Every gift the Earth is given, Is given unto me. (Given unto me!) Um, um, um. Um, um, um. At the bottom of the order, Every dangerous task in need Is given unto me. (Given unto me!) The sky, undone, Overthrown, Daggers flashing off and on. And I sway, Dearly clung To the lightning rod. Um, um, um. Um, um, um. When the white man touched the metal, That would bring the lightning nigh, Well, you thought the man defiant And crazy, by and by. (Crazy, by and by!) But you sent me to the rigging, Climbing to the sky! (Climbing to the sky!) Um, um, um. Um, um, um. (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
10.
The Musket 01:43
Chapter 123: The Musket Spinning in the storm, An angel adored me, Tempted my escape from every claimant, And we'd take the open sea, And turn it around. A token of the war In every arrangement Made between a man and that which taints him -- It's a life to overthrow, May heaven allow. Tell me, could it be the loss, The stinging loss I feel in every dream? In every Meaning lost to waves in rugged sea? Here I stand alone, At opposite corners From my only duty as I claim it -- Can I take the open sea, And turn it around? Tell me, could it be the loss, The stinging loss I feel in every dream? In every Meaning lost to waves in rugged sea? (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
11.
Chapter 71: The Jeroboam's Story All heaven would delight, Heaven would delight, If the sing-song charlatan a-blowing his horn had never been torn From permanent night. Cry "hell!" until you're right, You'll always be right If you hem and haw wide as Arkansas, you'll probably draw Inside of a straight. Oh, but you're wrong, You'll always be wrong, You offer damnation, You offer mistakes. Give me the law, Let me be strong, Give me salvation. No angel would affright, The way you affright. You feed their fear so that you can steer them far and away From nature's rights. Oh, but you're wrong, You'll always be wrong, You offer damnation, You offer mistakes. Give me the law, Let me be strong, Give me salvation. All heaven would delight, Heaven would delight, If the sing-song charlatan a-blowing his horn had never been born. (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
12.
The Pacific 02:21
Chapter 111: The Pacific A dream rolling over me, Rolling on, the sea Rolling over me. A dream rolling on, The sea touching all -- Receive of the harmony. Out over the ocean, I feel every notion Of peace, and of suffering. In every great undulation, Every soul, every patient Belief, every broken sleep. A dream rolling over me, Rolling on, the sea Rolling over me. A dream rolling on, The sea touching all -- Receive of the harmony. Just as the sea touches rivers In the valleys, as they quiver From hearts to humanity, Each of us touched and delivered By the shadows and glimmers Of all time, of all human beings. A dream rolling over me, Rolling on, the sea Rolling over me. A dream rolling on, The sea touching all -- Receive of the harmony. (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
13.
Chapter 55: Of the Monstrous Pictures of Whales Science could never relate (With a partial view of the animal state) A true description of whales, That would speak itself to our animal states, Neither the stories of old, Predetermined by man, Prior to Noah, alone, Floating over the sand. Show me Platonian form, And I'll show you one who has yet to have sworn Blessings for each of the crew In the eye of fear, in the mouth of the storm. Give out an animal wail In its terrible face; And draw it, as bravery pales To indifference. Give out an animal wail! Give out an animal wail! Give out an animal wail! Fault can only be laid When a man assumes all experience stale, Lifeless, and easy to rate, 'Til the distance makes his illusion the same. Lay out the soul of your soul, A majestic array, Tuned to the palpable, flawed Imbrication of days! (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
14.
Chapter 133: The Chase -- First Day (There she blows!) In every noble heart, an island, (There she blows!) Dense with every woe a lesser man could feel, And his island has breeched in the heart of the sea With the heavens above and a mystery beneath -- Birds aloft in joyous contemplation. (There she blows!) A gentle Jupiter, admired, (There she blows!) A pinion of serenity Set to work on the heart of a merciless hand That is raised, nonetheless, in the folly of man, Peace becomes a just and natural torrent. And he raised our boat in rows of ivory teeth, Then he made a safe retreat. (There she blows!) If gods would speak, it won't be omen (There she blows!) That they choose, in all omnipotence, to bear Any deafening will that a god could command From the power of all to the weakness of man -- Sails aloft, I speak but from an island; Sails aloft, I speak but from the sea. (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
15.
The Cabin 01:35
Chapter 129: The Cabin Ahab: Turn your trembling eyes, Oh!, sacred tiller, wise With empty paradise! Let me force the way. My illness will suffice, Torn from the echoes, To guide this grand device. Pip: Fully centered, so here I stay, The coronation of king-for-a-day, As I make believe a history to abnegate. Ahab: The hour is coming nigh -- Spun off the axis. Oh, empty paradise! Let me force the way. No caprice or guile Brought yet to sully A dutiful demise. (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
16.
Postscript 01:55
Chapter 25: Postscript Did you know It's a key regal dignity, oh for sure, To taste good? He's a well-seasoned leader, a salty germ! And all told, At the grand coronation he's crimped and curled With some oil, While a holy significance gives the foil. Take one, take two, take three, Take all of it. We view the rule of kings As sodomy! We know what kind of men are you, Given fully to pompous fools. So often, A contemptible signifier for men, Like or not, Is the well-oiled nature of every lock. Safe to say That a king wouldn't use the same oil as they. Fancy pants Needs the oil from the free men who bear the lance. Take one, take two, take three, Take all of it. We view the rule of kings As sodomy! (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
17.
Ambergris 01:56
Chapter 92: Ambergris Three cheers for the atmosphere, To good health in the coming years, To all smells foul, and to the sweet aroma Born from the wretched, blossomed in the corner. Hey, hey, we're only what we own. Hey, hey, we're gonna own the form! St. Paul dancing at the ball -- From dishonor to the glory tall. Wake, baby, wake -- it's only in the water! Change what you take, and change the holy order! Hey, hey, we're only what we own. Hey, hey, we're gonna own the form! Wake, baby, wake -- it's only in the water! Change what you take, and change the holy order! (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea
18.
Chapter 135: The Chase -- Third Day You'll always be the suffering, Come as a revival of our pride; Chimneys, volcanic, break our lives Back to the building blocks, inspired By the mechanics of each grief. You'll always be the suffering, Come think of the beauty in her eyes; Think on reflections in your child. Make for the evening, come what may! -- We're better in bitter struggling. You'll always be the suffering, (c) and (p) 2009 Patrick Shea

about

Buy the book at: www.lulu.com/shop/patrick-shea/call-me-ishmael/paperback/product-20300323.html

In the summer of 2008, Brooklyn elementary school teacher and musician Patrick Shea set two goals for himself—to read Moby-Dick, and to write a song every day for two months. Those two goals quickly merged to become to beginning of the Call Me Ishmael project. Three years later, Shea had written, recorded, and blogged about all 135 chapters of Moby-Dick, plus the epilogue.

The book contains the lyrics to all 136 songs from the project, along with free downloads of all 8 volumes of music. The book also includes an introduction to the project as a whole, and an afterword for each volume of songs, written by the author.

Some responses to the project:

"Patrick Shea’s highly imaginative, wide-ranging song cycle takes us chapter-by-chapter through Moby-Dick. Shea’s innovative, haunting lyrics share the fecundity and suggestiveness of Melville’s dazzling novel."
--David Reynolds, Distinguished Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center

"There is music in Moby-Dick because Melville put it there. But there is another kind of music that comes from readers who, once they have read Moby-Dick, simply have to sing. Lucky, then, that we have Patrick Shea whose clever, amusing, stirring, happy, sad songs do not attempt to retell Melville's classic story but give added musicality and life to Melville's thought."
--John Bryant, Editor of the Melville Society and Professor of English at Hofstra University

"Patrick Shea’s songs are deeply insightful responses to Melville’s masterpiece. They illuminate the power of Moby-Dick and enrich our experience of that remarkable novel. Shea understands that, at its heart, Moby-Dick is an orchestral work. Its chords resonate throughout Shea’s lyrics."
--Bill Kelly, President of the CUNY Graduate Center

credits

released September 28, 2011

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Patrick Shea Brooklyn, New York

Patrick is a nerd, a book lover, a math afficianado, an Ishmael, and an Ahab. He lives in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters. He grew up in Portland, OR; and has also lived in Grinnell, IA (for college); and Austin, TX.

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